Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Robert St. John: Good Morning, Hattiesburg

 A few weeks ago, an interviewer asked, “Give me a typical day in the life of Robert St. John.” 

I had never thought about it and so my knee-jerk reaction was, “Every day is different.” That’s true. But there is a certain structure to how my day typically begins.

 

When I’m working out the day starts at 5:30 a.m. in the gym, three days a week. Other than that, every day starts the same when I’m in town. I typically pop into the bakery between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. to check on the morning’s bake and then head to the Midtowner for breakfast. I make a point to say “Good morning,” to everyone working in the kitchen and on the floor and then take my seat at table 19. 

 

One can learn a lot in that initial 60 seconds of entering a restaurant in the early morning. If I receive an enthusiastic return, “good morning,” I know we’re getting everything set and ready for breakfast service in a smooth manner. If a morning welcome is half-hearted, I usually check up on that person to see if everything’s ok with their position in that moment, and if there is anything they may need help with in their personal life or at home.

 

It's rare that a return “good morning” is delivered in a downbeat manner at The Midtowner. That has been one of the great surprises with this breakfast-lunch concept I opened several years ago. Before we opened, I wondered if we were going to be able to retain a team that could wake up at 5:00 a.m. and make it to work on time.

 

If you’re not a restaurant person then you should know that a large percentage of the foodservice world— especially in a college town— likes to have a good time after work. I’m not talking about a rousing game of Scrabble or milk and cookies and a few rounds of charades. Restaurant people are party people. It’s always been that way, or at least during the time I’ve been doing this since 1981. The hours are long, the pace is fast, the pressure is sometimes intense. It’s not The Bear-level intense, but many times it gets hairy and young people are going to do what young people do. 

 

I was part of that post-work release madness for my first couple of years in this industry until I got clean and sober.

 

I spent 10 years thinking about opening a breakfast joint before I ever opened a breakfast joint. I knew my hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi would respond positively to a locally owned independent breakfast place that also served good, old-fashioned southern home-cooking for lunch. I knew our location was perfect for what we wanted to do. My biggest concern was if our team members would consistently be able to show up to work on time. A couple of our other concepts sometimes had trouble getting people to an 11:00 a.m. lunch shift in a timely manner. It’s never been a problem at The Midtowner.

 

This concept has been such a pleasure to own and operate. I love all my concepts. They’re like one’s children. One day one of them is dealing with an issue while the other is perfectly fine. The Midtowner has been a steady presence in the New South Restaurant Group fold. My early fears of team members not being able to get up early and get to work were unfounded.

 

All restaurants have a certain energy and vibe. The vibe at The Midtowner is always upbeat and positive. I wanted to create a restaurant that felt like it had been in operation since the late 1940s, a true local, community café. Back in those days that’s pretty much all that existed— small cafes or fine dining restaurants with French chefs. There weren’t any theme restaurants or national chains littering the landscape. It was all local.

 

I wanted to create a place where the entire community could get together and share a meal— young, old, black, white, rich, poor, guys with their names stitched to their work shirts, and sorority girls with Greek letters on their sweatshirts. It was one of the proudest moment s of my restaurant career when— two weeks into our initial run— I turned around while working the window and looked out into the dining room, and that’s what I saw— all ages, all walks of life, all occupations, all sharing a meal. I wanted to create the most Hattiesburg restaurant that had ever existed in Hattiesburg, and I felt as if I had done that. It still feels that way.

 

One of the greatest compliments I receive is when someone is surprised when I tell them that we’ve only been open a little over five years. “But it looks like it’s been here since the fifties.” That was the plan.

 

I am wired for a breakfast joint— to own one and to be in one. It just fits my lifestyle and personality, and I feel overly blessed to own one and have such a positive team running it every day. When my “day in the life” starts out at a breakfast joint— whether it’s mine or someone else’s— it sets a positive, productive tone for the rest of my day.

 

Onward.

 


 

 

 

Sweet Potato Pancakes


 

 

Yield: 10-14 pancakes

Preheat oven to 200 degrees for holding pancakes 

 

1 2/3  cups                          All Purpose Flour

1 TBSP                                  Baking Powder

½ tsp                                     Baking Soda

½ tsp                                     Kosher Salt

½ tsp                                     Nutmeg

1 ½ tsp                                  Cinnamon

1 ½ cups                              Cooked and mashed sweet potato (approximately two medium sweet potatoes)

3                                            Large Eggs

¼ cup                                    Sour Cream

1 ½ cups                               Milk

¼ cup                                    Maple Syrup

¼ cup                                     Unsalted Butter, melted

1 TBSP                                  Pure Vanilla Extract  

 

Melted butter or non-stick spray for cooking  

 

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon in a medium sized bowl. In a separate mixing bowl whisk together the sweet potato puree eggs, sour cream, milk, maple syrup, melted butter and vanilla extract. Whisk the sweet potato mixture into the flour mixture, do not overmix. A few lumps is fine. 

 

Allow batter to sit 10-15 minutes before cooking pancakes. 

 

To cook the pancakes, heat a non-stick griddle to 325-350 degrees (models vary, so test your griddle with a small bit of batter to assure you have the heat adjusted correctly). Brush griddle with melted butter or spray with non-stick spray. Form pancakes by using a one-third cup measuring cup. Cook until surface of pancakes has some bubbles and a few have burst, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip pancakes and cook for an additional two minutes. If holding pancakes in oven before serving, place them on a wire rack in preheated oven.

 

Serve with warm Cinnamon Cream Syrup

      

                                       

 Cinnamon Cream Syrup

 

Yield: approximately 2 cups

 

1-14 ounce can                 Sweetened Condensed Milk

¼ cup + 2 TBSP                  Maple Syrup

1 ½ tsp                                Cinnamon

1 tsp                                   Pure Vanilla Extract

Pinch                                  Salt

 

 

Set up a small sauce pot to act as a double boiler. Combine all ingredients in a small stainless-steel bowl and place over double boiler on medium-high heat. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and serve. 

 

The cooled syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for one week.

 


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
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